1. You may identify the stasis in the play but it isn’t necessarily at the beginning of the play. Where is it and who does it involve?
The play takes place in several cities at several different times over the course of the story. The time starts from 1990 and goes to present day, including places like New York City, San Fransisco, Boston, and some parts of China. The story involves David Hwang, a Chinese american play writer, his dad, Henry Hwang, who is a banker, and Marcus; a man who we find out later does not really exist beyond David's writing. 2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Execution of Justice and how is it broken?
The intrusion is when David mistakingly casts Marcus, a white man, to play in the Asian role. He convinces himself that Marcus is of asian descent before is he specifically told that Marcus is white and has to keep up the lie until he basically fires him. 3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: what is the heart of the play? How does the title figure in this?
The events take place here because this is the day he decides to take part in the protest of casting a white man in asian role as shown at the beginning of the play. Without that, he would not have written Face Value that started the whole problem in the first place. 4. State the dramatic question that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
The dramatic question is How will he get himself out of this situation. How will he save face with his community having cast a white man for an asian role for his play when he's claimed he is so supportive of the group. 5. Use Hwang’s “character” to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing each of the lawyers.
Me against society: David had wanted to create a play about yellow face, though he runs into trouble. In the beginning of the play, he speaks out agains the use of yellow face, but then becomes a hypocrite when casting Marcus for his play. He tries desperately to make sure that the world does not find out about Marcus being white. Me against himself: He thought he knew himself at the beginning, but his hypocrisy surprises him and begins to learn things about himself he did not know. 6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Yellow Face.
I think the most theatrical moment is at the very end of the play when we find out Marcus is a made up character. It is revealed that is is kind of a play within a play and David really emphasizes on what is real and what isn't real. He used Marcus to express what he had done with the 'face' he had used.
The play takes place in several cities at several different times over the course of the story. The time starts from 1990 and goes to present day, including places like New York City, San Fransisco, Boston, and some parts of China. The story involves David Hwang, a Chinese american play writer, his dad, Henry Hwang, who is a banker, and Marcus; a man who we find out later does not really exist beyond David's writing.
2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Execution of Justice and how is it broken?
The intrusion is when David mistakingly casts Marcus, a white man, to play in the Asian role. He convinces himself that Marcus is of asian descent before is he specifically told that Marcus is white and has to keep up the lie until he basically fires him.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: what is the heart of the play? How does the title figure in this?
The events take place here because this is the day he decides to take part in the protest of casting a white man in asian role as shown at the beginning of the play. Without that, he would not have written Face Value that started the whole problem in the first place.
4. State the dramatic question that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
The dramatic question is How will he get himself out of this situation. How will he save face with his community having cast a white man for an asian role for his play when he's claimed he is so supportive of the group.
5. Use Hwang’s “character” to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing each of the lawyers.
Me against society: David had wanted to create a play about yellow face, though he runs into trouble. In the beginning of the play, he speaks out agains the use of yellow face, but then becomes a hypocrite when casting Marcus for his play. He tries desperately to make sure that the world does not find out about Marcus being white. Me against himself: He thought he knew himself at the beginning, but his hypocrisy surprises him and begins to learn things about himself he did not know.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Yellow Face.
I think the most theatrical moment is at the very end of the play when we find out Marcus is a made up character. It is revealed that is is kind of a play within a play and David really emphasizes on what is real and what isn't real. He used Marcus to express what he had done with the 'face' he had used.